From: ae446@Freenet.carleton.ca (Nigel Allen)
Newsgroups: alt.activism,rec.travel,alt.law-enforcement,alt.privacy,alt.visa.us
Subject: INS Ready to Test INSPASS to Speed Inspections at Busiest Airports
Message-ID:
Date: 25 May 93 02:20:20 GMT
Here is a press release from the U.S. Immigration and
Naturalization Service.
INS Ready to Test INSPASS to Speed Inspections at Busiest Airports
To: National Desk
Contact: Verne Jervis or Duke Austin of the Immigration and
Naturalization Service, 202-514-2648
WASHINGTON, May 24 -- The Immigration and Naturalization
Service (INS) has installed a new system at New York's
John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport and the Newark International
Airport in New Jersey to test the use of biometric technology to
speed inspections of frequent travelers.
The INS will hold a public demonstration of this system, called
the INS Passenger Accelerated Service System (INSPASS), at the
Newark airport, International Terminal B, today (May 24), at
10 a.m.
INSPASS is the latest in the series of efforts by the INS to
facilitate inspections and reduce delays for passengers of
international flights. It combines an enrollment procedure with a
biometric imaging device to record a person's hand geometry as a
means of positive identification. Travelers who apply will be
interviewed in person and have their hand geometry electronically
recorded.
Approved applicants will receive an INSPASS card, which
resembles a credit card. When they arrive at an airport equipped
for INSPASS, they can insert this card into a card reader while
they place their right hand, palm down, on the hand geometry reader
at designated inspection booths. Travelers whose hand geometry
matches the data recorded on the INSPASS can pass through
inspection in a fraction of the time it normally takes, unless
otherwise questioned by inspectors on duty.
INSPASS is meant to be used by frequent travelers who come to
the United States through the busiest ports. INS will test the
system at JFK and Newark for 6 months, during which time eligible
travelers may participate free of charge by applying at one
of the enrollment centers in either airport.
Participation in the program is voluntary and open to citizens
of the United States and of these nations (as designated under the
Visa Waiver Pilot Program):
Andorra Finland Liechtenstein San Marino
Austria France Luxembourg Spain
Belgium Germany Monaco Sweden
Bermuda Iceland Netherlands Switzerland
Canada Italy New Zealand United Kingdom
Denmark Japan Norway
-30-
--
Nigel Allen, Toronto, Ontario, Canada ae446@freenet.carleton.ca